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Brigade and Helping Hand Foundation solve busing problem for Leavenworth school

January 12, 2007 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Kansas City Brigade News Release


Kansas City, Mo. (Jan. 11) - In only its second year of existence, the Brigade is already making an impact in the community away from the football field. In cooperation with the Helping Hand Foundation, the team today presented a check in the amount of $3000 to Anthony Elementary School in Leavenworth to help bus students during the winter. Fox 4 News reporter Shelli Lockhart was on hand to follow up on the original Fox 4 Problems Solvers story of December 27.

The situation involves students in a housing complex less than two miles from Anthony Elementary. Under Kansas law, the district is not required to pay for transportation because the students are so close, but it is a difficult journey for them nonetheless. The students must brave not only the harsh winter elements but also a major four-lane intersection busy with commuters.

Parents of the students are not able to afford the strongest winter clothing for their children and fear for their safety walking to school. Anthony Elementary and the parents also cannot afford to continually pay for bus service that costs $175 a day. What often happens is the children just do not go to school because it is so difficult.

"I've been at Anthony for 10 years and up until about three years ago winter was the worst attendance time of the school year," Principal Janine Kempker said. "Since we started the bus up and continue fundraising every year, attendance has increased, academics have increased, and it has made a world of difference for our students."

The Brigade and the Helping Hand Foundation saw an opportunity to make a difference and immediately granted funds to the cause. The school is holding continual fundraisers and has appealed to the public for the balance. That is how the Fox 4 Problem Solvers story originated.

"We appreciate every little bit that we've been getting," said William Cannon, parent-student liaison at Anthony Elementary. "Fortunately, we got folks like the Brigade who've done a wonderful job and have definitely given us a nice little kick start. With the donations that we've gotten and some fundraising we've done at school, we're covered until the end of January."

Busing during the blustery months of February and March are not yet covered, however. At $175 a day, there is still work to be done by Cannon and Kempker.

"Anything that we can do to keep the bus going, we're going to do," Cannon said. "Unfortunately, this has become a yearly thing, doing fundraisers and asking the community for help. My wish is that one day we won't have to worry about it, that it'll be done. Maybe the district, maybe the state will finally help us out."

If you have an interest in assisting Anthony Elementary School transport its students during the winter, please contact Principal Janine Kempker at kempkerja@lvksch.org.



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from January 12, 2007


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